Saving Lives In Slow Motion

Every week or so you will see and article about one or more of these topics. Maybe you have tried them or do them regularly. In the episode I look at the science and thinking behind them all. Links:  Cold water exposure - a paper:  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9518606/ Vagus nerve stimulation:  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17598-vagus-nerve-stimulatio...

Prescribing Lifestyle Medicine is a course I run with Dr Rangan Chatterjee that has been going for 8 years now. It was the first course of its kind in the UK and in this episode I look at a recap of our recent conference, what has changed in lifestyle medicine over the years and the latest science. Links: Dr Emily Leeming:  https://www.emilyleeming.com/ Dr Rob Lustig:  https://robertlust...

Ayurvedic Medicine is thousands of years old. It has a systems based approach which can be personalised and its methods are based on careful observation and the interconnectedness of human beings and our relation to our environment. There has also been caution around some treatments which can cause harm which I cover in this episode. A quick summary of Ayurvedic Medicine:  https://www.nc...

It’s easy to race through life without thinking that we need to do some inner work on ourselves but more often than not it catches up with us at some point. In this episode I look at why it’s important and go through a basic inner child exercise to get you started. Links: A beginner’s guide to inner child work:  https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/inner-child-healing#listen Some b...

Symptoms are often hard to interpret with the amount of data and tools that are out there these days. In this episode I look at innocuous symptoms that can creep up on us over a long time but could be harbinger of an underlying condition. COMT genes:  https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/click-here-for-happiness/202001/what-is-the-comt-gene-and-how-does-it-affect-your-health Raynaud’s Phen...

There isn’t a week that I don’t hear the phrase ‘work-life balance’. In this episode I look at what it means, how it has changed over the years and what we can do to try to get it right. What is work-life balance?:  https://www.forbes.com/sites/maurathomas/2022/07/26/what-does-work-life-balance-even-mean/ Severance:  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11280740/ Womens Liberation and WLB:&...

In this episode I have saved up questions from the last 6 months and decided to tackle them head on. From whether you should get a DNA analysis to why some people think fibre is bad for you - it’s in this ep! DNA analyses - a view point  https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/jul/23/what-i-learned-from-home-dna-test-kits-are-they-accurate-or-worthwhile SNPs:  https://medlineplus.g...

Vitamin D is often regarded as the doyen of vitamins. It’s structure differs to other vitamins and in this episode I look at it’s benefits, it’s risks and potential in terms of it’s role in human health. Structure of vitamin D:  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916523241039 UVA and UVB light:  https://www.skincancer.org/risk-factors/uv-radiation/ Vitamin D defi...

Coeliac Disease rates are rising across the globe. In this episode I look at what it is, why it occurs and the multitude of guises that gluten-related symptoms can take on.  So many foods contain gluten (not just grains) so it is an important issue. The genetics of coeliac disease (HLAs - human leukocyte antigens):  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/is-celiac-disease-hereditary V...

In this episode I look at something that comes to us all, not death itself, but the run up towards it. How can we prepare for the inevitable in the best possible way? Is it even possible? Longevity as an obsession:  https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/2024/sep/13/rich-men-longevity-history Urgency culture, burnout and modern life:  https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/ar...

Migraines are common cause of debility worldwide. In this episode I look at the causes of migraines and other types of headaches, what we can do about them and how to detect and manage them better. Links:  The theories behind migraine and its mechanism:  https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/headache/how-a-migraine-happens Triptan drugs:  https://migrai...

In this episode I look at Functional Medicine, a movement which started in the USA and is practised predominantly by non-medical practitioners but also increasingly medical doctors.  It comes under a lot of fire from doctors and I want to explore why this, including that is isn’t ‘medicine' and what the differences and similarities are between functional medicine and conventional allopathic m...

In this episode I look at a quick and easy way to take stock of your health quickly and easily to re-orientate yourself whenever you need to. It’s a great way to lay out your story, turn 'what into why', and maintain your health and head off problems before they set in.  My IDEAL framework for habit change:  https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/the-health-fix-dr-ayan-panja-new-years...

Protein is one of our three macronutrients and increasingly getting traction as being really important to our long term health. In this episode I look at why it’s so important to make sure we get enough and the right type. Sugar equivalent chart for carbohydrates:  https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/what-is-a-low-carb-lifestyle/dr-unwins-sugar-infographics/ Leptin and ghrelin:  https://www.hea...

Air pollution is a huge cause of death killing 8 million people worldwide each year. Its effects are damaging to most of our body systems yet is an ‘invisible’ threat to us. In this episode I look at what we can do to minimise our exposure to air pollutants in and out of the home. WHO guidelines:  https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240034228 Pesticides and Parkinson’s Disea...

Magnesium is an important mineral for our health and in this episode I look at why it has become a silent public health issue in recent years. I cover where magnesium comes from, why deficiency has become so prevalent and what to do about it.  Food sources of magnesium:  https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/magnesium/ Sublinical magnesium deficiency:  https://openheart.bmj.com/c...

In this episode I go back to the basics of how to get themes out now your GP appointment beyond the obvious. Medicine is increasingly complex and time is often short with the doctor. Here are my tips for an effective use of appointments in 2025. Links: Why men don’t gp to the doctor -  https://www.bowelresearchuk.org/latest-news/why-dont-men-go-to-see-their-doctors/ Hello My Name is...

Infections of the urinary tract are a daily occurrence but there is much more to them than meets the eye. In this episode I go through some of the conditions that affect the kidney and bladder and what we can do to keep them healthy. Cystitis:  https://www.healthline.com/health/cystitis Benign prostate enlargement:  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-enlargement/ Urethritis:&nbs...

Wellness is big. But it really divides opinion. Some think of it as extreme aesthetic procedures or unnecessary fad diets whereas others regard it as essential maintenance. I explore what wellness really means in this episode. —— Links: The GWI and wellness definitions:  https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/ Wellness vs wellbeing:  https://www.gallup.com/workplace/340202/wellness-wel...

In this episode I look at a huge study from the USA which looked at over 700,000 people to find which habits lead others to increased lifespan. I discuss the limitations of the study but also some universal habits we could all potentially benefit from. The study:  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000291652366280X?via%3Dihub Study summary:  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.go...

This year instead of wanting to take on new habits and do more I want to let go of things that are holding me back. In true Health Fix style it’s all about Too Little vs Too Much and I am shedding the too much bits! Toxic behaviours by others, phones in the morning, all or nothing and forgiveness all feature. Links:  Marie Kondo and KonMari: https://konmari.com/ Boundary setting:  https:...

There is consensus on how reflection is good for mental health as well as productivity but how can we easily make time for it on the modern world? In this episode at this reflective time of year I look at how we might be able to do it little and often. The power of self-reflection:  https://hbr.org/2022/03/dont-underestimate-the-power-of-self-reflection Journalling benefits:  https://psy...

In this episode I cover the different type so anaemia as I have found it can cause much confusion and there are so many different types, from mild iron deficiency to types that can be life threatening.  Iron deficiency anaemia:  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/iron-deficiency-anaemia/ Bone marrow:  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22818-bone-marrow Haem and non haem iron:&nb...

In this episode I look at the liver and how to keep it healthy, arguably the most industrious visceral organ in our body with so many critical functions.  Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease:  https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/nonalcoholic-fatty-liver-disease Fructose:  https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/how-high-fructose-intake-may-trigg...

It’s a time of year that some people dread but there’s so much we can do get through this season and I look at that in this short but useful 101 episode. Polyphenols and hormesis:  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0958166924000107 Vitamin C and zinc for colds:  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32342851/ Asthma exacerbations and vitamin D:  https://www.thelancet....